Controller



Nov.` 23, 1943. c. O. Woon 2,334,978

CONTROLLER Filed Sept. 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sneet l Pfg! nlm

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C. O. WOOD CONTROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR, "CM1/DEQ M4300 Patented Nov. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROLLER.

Claude O. Wood, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 4, 1942, Serial No. 457,257

(Cl. D- 153) 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in controllers particularly adapted to control the circuits of electric motors so they may be operated and started and stopped in an efficient manner.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a simplied form of mechanically operated controller of the cam type having less moving parts than formerly.

In carrying out my invention I provide a novel and simpliiied form of pivoted support and actuating means for the movable contact of a cam operated controller and so arrange this support and actuating means that a cam will disengage the contacts, and a single spring reacting against certain of the support means for the movable contact will engage the contacts with each other and react against the support means for the movable contact in such a manner as to attain movement of the movable contact along the face of the stationary contact upon disengagement of the contacts, to provide a wiping disengaging action of the contacts and to aid in preventing an excessive arc as the circuit is broken.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specication proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l isa view in side elevation of a controller constructed in accordance with my invention with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in substantially longitudinal section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken through the controller shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail View showing the contacts in a disengaged position; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view showing certain details of the indexing means for the control handle.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, a controller generally indicated by reference character I0 is provided. This controller includes a casing orming an enclosure for a plurality of stationary contacts I I, I I adapted to be successively engaged by a plurality of movable contacts I2,y I2, in a predetermined order, to close an electric circuit. The usual form of arc horns and blowout coils is provided for the contacts, to extinguish the arc as the electric circuit is broken. Said arc horns and blowout coils are not herein shown or described since they are no part of my present. invention. A control handle I3, secured to the upper end of a control shaft I4, is provided to open said contacts in a predetermined order by means of a plurality of cams I5, I5, spaced along said shaft, in a manner which will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds.

An index wheel I'I is herein shown as being secured to the lower end of the control shaft I4. Said index wheel is provided with a plurality of notches I8, I8, spaced along the outer face thereof, for indexing the various positions of the control handle and enabling the operator to stop the control handle at a point where certain of the contacts are in a fully engaged or disengaged position. Said notches are adapted to be engaged by a roller IQ on the end of a lever arm 2i), which is pivotally mounted on the bottom of the controller casing, on a vertical pin 2|. A compression spring 22 is interposed between an abutment 23, projecting upwardly from the bottom .of said casing and said lever arm, for yieldably engaging the roller I9 with the notches I8, I8.

The movable contact I2 has an arcuate contact face 25, and has a rectangular portion 26 extending from the side thereof opposite said contact face. Said rectangular portion is adapted to abut an outer end 2l of a contact lever 29. Said outer end is herein shown as being squared and as engaging a squared recess formed by said rectangular portion 26 and the rear side of said contact. A machine screw Sli, extending through said rectangular portion, is provided to secure said contact to said outer end of said contact lever. The contact lever 29 extends inwardly from said movable contact and ispivoted intermediate its ends lbetween the sides of a pivoted arm 3i, by means oi a pivotal pin 32. The portion of said contact arm on the side of said pivotal pin opposite from said contact, extends along said pivoted armtowards the pivotal axis thereof, and has a roller 33 mounted thereon which is adapted to engage an associated cam I5.

The pivoted arm 3l is pivotally mounted at its end opposite they Contact I2 on a bracket 35, by means of a pivotal pin 36. Said pivotal pin is disposed on the opposite side of the shaft I4 from said contact, so said arm may be pivotally movable towards and away from the stationary contact II, to engage said movable contact with or disengage it from said stationary Contact. Said arm is provided with an abutting outer end 31, spaced outwardly from the axis of connection of the contact lever i9 to said pivoted arm. Said outer end abuts the end 2l of said contact lever opposite from the iiat portion 2S, and serves to limit pivotal movement of said contact lever and movable contact with respect to said pivoted arm, in a direction away from said movable contact, and forms an abutment, to positively engage said movable Contact with said stationary Contact.

A compression spring 39 is provided to engage said movable contact with said stationary contact and hold the roller 33 in engagement with its associated cam I5 and cause a wiping disengaging action between said stationary and movable contacts. Said spring is interposed between the bracket 35 and the opposite side of the abutting outer end 31 of the pivoted arm 3l, from the contact l2, `and urges said pivoted arm towards said stationary Contact and at the same time holds the roller 33 in engagement with the cam I5.

The electrical circuit between said stationary and movable contacts is broken by engagement of the roller 33 with the high portion of the cam l5. As the control handle i3 is turned in a clockwise direction, the cam l5, engaging the roller 33, will first pivot the contact lever 29 in a direction, which in Figures 2 and 3 is shown as being a clock-wise direction, to slide or roll the curved face of the movable contact l2 along a corresponding curved face of the stationary contact li, until a point is reached where an engaging end 4l of said contact arm engages a stop l2 on said pivoted'arm. At this point the rolling or wiping action of said contacts will cease and said cam will pivot said pivoted arm and movable contact in a direction away from the stationary contact, to positively disengage the contacts against the compression spring 39, as in Figure 3.

It may be seen from the foregoing that a sim plied contactor of the cam operated type has been provided which does away with the usual multiplicity of springs for causing the contacts to open with a wiping action and which instead pivotally supports the movable contact on a pivoted lever arm and attains the wiping action by means of a single spring engaging the pivoted lever arm and urging it in a direction towards the stationary contact.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the speciiic embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a controller, a frame, a stationary contact, a movable contact engageable with said stationary Contact, a mounting for said movable contact on said frame including a contact arm pivotally mounted on said frame for movement towards and away from said stationary contact, a contact lever pivotally mounted on said arm and having said movable contact mounted thereon, a cam engageable with said Contact lever, for disengaging said movable contact from said stationary contact, and a single compression spring interposed between said frame and said arm, for engaging said movable contact with said'staticnary contact and reacting against said contact lever, to cause said cam to first pivot said contact lever with respect to said arm and then pivot said arm and contact lever together in a direction away from said movable contact.

2. In a controller', a frame, a stationary contact, a movable Contact engageable with said stationary contact, a mounting for said movable Contact on said frame including a contact arm pivotally mounted on said frame for movement towards and away from said stationary Contact, a contact lever pivoted on said arm intermediate its ends, said contact lever having one end portion adapted to extend along said arm and having another end portion extending beyond the end or said arm and having said movable contact mounted thereon, a rotatable cam adapted to have operative connection with the portion of said contact lever which extends along said arm, to pivot said contact lever about its axis of pivotal connection to said arm and to pivot said arm and movable Contact in a direction away from said stationary contact, to break the connection between said stationary and movable contacts, and a compression spring interposed between said frame and said arm to pivot said arm and movable contact towards said stationary Contact, to engage said movable Contact with said stationary Contact.

3. In a controller of the class described, a stationary contact, a movable Contact engageable with said stationary contact, for completing an electrical circuit, a contact arm pivoted for movement towards and away from said stationary contact, a contact lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said arm, for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of said arm, said contact lever having one portion extending towards the pivotal axis of said arm and having another portion extending beyond the end of said arm and having said movable contact mounted thereon, a compression spring reacting against said arm at a point spaced from the pivotal axis thereof, for engaging said movable contact with said stationary contact and for holding said contacts in engagement with each other, and a rotatable cam engageable with said portion of said contact lever extending towards the pivotal axis of said arm, for pivoting said lever with respect to said arm and for sliding said movable Contact along said stationary contact in a direction to break the electrical connection therebetween with a wiping action.

4. In a controller of the class described, a stationary Contact, a movable contact engageable with said stationary contact, for completing an electrical circuit, an arm pivoted for movement towards and away from said stationary contact, a contact lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said arm, for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of said arm, said contact lever having one portion extending towards the pivotal axis of said arm and having another portion extending beyond the end of said arm and having said movable contact mounted thereon, a single compression spring reacting against said arm and urging it in a direction towards said sationary contact, a rotatable cam engageable with said portion of said contact lever extending towards the pivotal axis of said arm, for pivoting said contact lever with respect to said arm and sliding said movable contact along said stationary contact in a direction to break the electrical connection therebetween with a wiping action, and for moving said arm in a direction away from said contact lever, and an abutting connection between said arm and said contact lever, at a point spaced from the axis of pivotal connection of said lever to said arm, to limit pivotal movement of said Contact lever in one direction, and to cause said arm to positively engage said movable contact with said stationary contact.

5. In a controller of the class described, a stationary contact, a movable contact engageable with said stationary contact for completing an electrical circuit, an arm pivoted for movement towards and away from said stationary contact, a spring having connection with said arm at a point spaced from the pivotal axis thereof, for urging said arm in a direction towards said stationary contact, a contact lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said arm, adjacent the outer end thereof and having said movable contact mounted thereon, means engaging said lever for pivotally moving said lever with respect to said arm and then moving said arm against said spring, and an abutting connection between said pivoted arm and said contact lever, for causing said spring to engage said movable contact with said stationary contact by pivotally moving said cam in a direction towards said stationary contact.

6. In a controller of the class described, a stationary contact, a movable contact engageable with said stationary contact, for completing an electrical circuit, an arm pivoted for movement towards and away from said stationary contact, a contact lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said arm, adjacent the outer end thereof, and having said movable contact mounted on one of its ends, a spring having connection with said arm at a point spaced from the pivotal axis thereof for pivoting said arm in a direction towards said stationary contact, to engage said movable contact with said stationary contact, a rotatable cam having operative connection with the end of said contact lever opposite from said movable contact for first pivoting said contact arm with respect to said pivoted arm, when sai-d contacts are in an engaged position, and then moving said lever and pivoted arm against said spring, to disengage said movable contact from said stationary cont-act with a wiping action.

7. In a controller of the class described, a stationary contact, a movable contact engageable with said stationary contact for completing an electrical circuit, an arm pivoted for movement towards and away from said stationary contact, a contact lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said arm, adjacent the outer end of said arm, and having said movable contact mounted on one of its ends, a spring having connection with said arm at a point spaced from the pivotal axis thereof for pivoting said arm in a direction towards said stationary contact, to engage said movable contact with said stationary contact, the other end of said lever extending along said arm, and a rotatable cam having operative connection with said end of said contact lever, a stop on said arm adapted to be engaged by said end of said lever operatively connected with said cam, to limit pivotal movement of said lever with respect to said arm, whereby said cam will first pivotally move said lever and contact with respect to said arm and will then move said Contact and arm against said spring in a direction away from said stationary contact.

8. In a controller of the class described, a stationary contact, a movable Contact engageable with said stationary contact for completing an electrical circuit, an arm pivoted for movement towards and away from said stationary contact, a contact lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said arm, adjacent the outer end of said arm and having said movable contact mounted on one of its ends, a spring having connection with said arm at a point spaced from the pivotal axis thereof for pivoting said arm in a direction towards said stationary contact, to engage said movable contact with said stationary contact, the other end of said lever extending along said arm towards the pivotal axis thereof, a rotatable cam having operative connection with said end of said contact lever extending along said arm, a stop on said arm adapted to be engaged by said lever, to limit pivotal movement thereof with respect to said arm and to cause said cam to iirst pivotally move said movable contact with respect to said pivoted arm and then move said arm and contact together, to disengage said stationary contact from said movable contact with a wiping action, and an abutting connection between the end of said pivoted arm and said contact lever, to limit pivotal movement of said contact arm in a direction away from said stationary contact and to cause said pivoted arm and spring to engage said movable contact with said stationary contact.

9. In a controller of the class described, a stationary contact, a movable contact engageable with said stationary contact for completing an electrical circuit, an arm pivoted for movement towards and away from said stationary contact, a contact lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said arm, adjacent the outer end of said arm and having said movable contact mounted on one of its ends, a spring having connection with said arm at a point spaced from the pivotal axis thereof for pivoting said arm in a direction towards said stationary contact, to engage said movable contact with said stationary contact, the other end of said lever extending along said arm towards the pivotal axis thereof, a manually controlled rotatable cam, a roller mounted on the end of said contact lever which extends along said arm, a stop on said arm adapted to be engaged by said lever, to limit pivotal movement thereof with respect to said arm, said cam and roller being adapted to first pivotally move said movable contact with respect to said pivoted arm and then engage said end of said lever with said stop to move said pivoted arm against said spring, to disengage said movable contact from said stationary contact, and an abutting connection between said pivoted arm and said contact arm at a point spaced outwardly from the pivotal axis of said contact arm, to cause said pivoted arm and spring to hold said roller in engagement with said cam and to enga-ge said movable contact with said stationary contact.

CLAUDE O. WOOD.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,55li,978. November 25, 19li5.

CLAUDE O. WOOD.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5,. first column, line 19, claim 5,V for "cam" read -arm; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conforml tothe reoord'o the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 25th day of January, A. D. 19m.

Henrr Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,55Lh98. November .25, 19M.

CLAUDE o. woon.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5,. first column, line 19, claim 5, for "cam" read -arm; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may confonntothe record'of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 25th dey of January, A. D. 19ML.

Henry Van Arsdale,

' (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

